Film discriminating and winding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A film discriminating and winding apparatus programmed to receive and condition film containers containing a predetermined type of film for the removal of film therefrom. The apparatus is programmed in one instance by mounting a coded take-up reel thereon designed to receive film of a predetermined type, in another instance by mounting such a coded reel and manually positioning a corresponding selector-switch, or by a combination of the two. The film containers such as cartridges are provided with film-identifying indicia identifying the type of film contained therein, and the apparatus provided with an indicia or film sensing mechanism for sensing the type of film. If the film in the cartridge matches the film for which the reel is coded, the apparatus is enabled for operation, and when operated conditions the cartridge for the removal of film therefrom. The removed film is fed through an operating station, such as a splicing station, and then onto the take-up reel of the reel winding apparatus.

United States Patent [191 Calberg [11 3,776,438 [451 Dec .4, 1973 FILM DISCRIMINATING AND WINDING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Willis G. Calberg, Hilton, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, NY.

[22] Filed: May 15, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 253,068

[52] US. Cl. 225/93, 29/200 D [51] Int. Cl. G031! 15/00, B26! 3/00 [58] Field of Search 29/200 D; 225/93 I [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1970 Blackman 225/93 X 3/1973 DErcole et al 225/93 X Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost Attorney-William T. French et a1.

MACH/IVE LOG/C 0/? CONTROL -C/RCU/T AND A [57] ABSTRACT A film discriminating and winding apparatus programmed to receive and condition film containers containing a predetermined type of film for the removal of film therefrom. The apparatus is programmed in one instance by mounting a coded takeup reel thereon designed to receive film of a predetermined type, in another instance by mounting such a coded reel and manually positioning a corresponding selector-switch, or by a combination of the two. The film containers such as cartridges are provided with film-identifying indicia identifying the type of film contained therein, and the apparatus provided with an indicia or film sensing mechanism for sensing the type of film. If the film in the cartridge matches the film for which the reel is coded, the apparatus is enabled for operation, and when operated conditions the cartridge for the removal of film therefrom. The removed film is fed through an operating station, such as a splicing station, and then onto the take-up reel of the reel winding apparatus.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CAR TRIDG'E COND/ T/OA/l/VG MECHANISM F IL M SENS/1V6 MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to web winding apparatus, and more specifically to a film discriminating and winding apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known in the prior art to provide a photographic processing system having what is commonly referred to as a splice work center in which film cartridges are sensed by a fluidic sensor to determine the type of film contained therein. If the sensed film is compatible with the processing chemistry of the processing apparatus through which the film is to be fed, the anti-backup mechanism in the cartridge is disabled permitting manual removal of the film from the cartridge. In one possible application, the leading end of the film is removed from the disabled cartridge, spliced to the trailing end of a previous filmstrip, fed into a slack box, and the film from the slack box fed into the photographic processing apparatus. Such a processing system is satisfactory for photofinishers and processors having the work center directly coupled to a processing apparatus. However, in those processing systems in which a work center is not used, the processor preferably initially sorts the cartridges into stacks, each containing one type of film requiring one kind of processing chemistry. Each of the stacks of cartridges is opened, and the filmstrips contained therein spliced together to form a continuous film of one type which is wound onto a master reel. When desired, each reel containing one type of film is mounted on a processing device having processing chemistry compatible with that type of film, and the film fed therethrough for processing. In such latter system, one major problem is that the cartridges containing the different film types are not always accurately sorted so that only filmstrips of the same type are spliced together and wound onto a master reel. As a result, when the film is fed through a processing apparatus, those filmstrips requiring a different processing chemistry are ruined. The present invention is directed to a film discriminating and winding apparatus that solves the aforementioned and other problems by assuringthat only filmstrips of one film type are wound In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a film discriminating and winding apparatus is provided which, when loaded with a take-up reel coded with a distinguishing characteristic indicating a predetermined type of film to be wound thereon, automatically programs the apparatus, or provides a basis for manually programming the apparatus so that only film containers such as cartridges containing the predetermined type of film will be conditioned for film removal and winding of film onto the reel. The film discriminating and winding apparatus has automatic or manually operated means responsive to the code on a take-up reel loaded in the apparatus for establishing a first condition corresponding to the film type represented by the code. The apparatus is further provided with a cartridge conditioning means for conditioning a cartridge to permit removal of the film therefrom. The apparatus further has a reading or sensing means for sensing the film type identifying indicia on each cartridge loaded into the cartridge conditioning means, and in response thereto establishing a second condition corresponding to the film type in the cartridge. The apparatus is further provided with means responsive to the first and second conditions for enabling the cartridge conditioning means to condition a cartridge if the first and second conditions are established for the same type of film. 1

It is accordingly one of the objects of the present invention to provide a film discriminating and winding apparatus that will condition cartridges for the removal of film therefrom only when film and reel signal outputs are generated by film and reel sensing mechanisms respectively for the same type of film.

Another object of the invention is to provide a film discriminating and winding apparatus in which the mounting of a coded reel for accepting one type of film programs the apparatus to accept, for conditioning and removal of film therefrom, only cartridges containing the one type of film.

Another object of the invention is to provide a film discriminating and winding apparatus that is of simple design and construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

The invention and its objects and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presented below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart in block diagram form illustrating the flow of film through a film processing system in which a film discriminating and winding apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is incorporated; I

FIG. 2 is an electrical circuit diagram partially in schematic and block diagram form for the film discriminating and winding apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the reel sensing mechanism of the film discriminating and winding apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a flow sheet is illustrated of a film processing system in which the film discriminating and winding apparatus of this invention may be incorporated. Generally, in such a processing system, color film of varied types designated A, B, C, D, and E, in light tight film containers such as cassettes or cartridges, arrives at the film processing plant, and the cartridges containing the same type of film are sorted into bins. In a dark room, the exposed film, all of the same type, is removed from each of the cartridges in a bin, and the leading end of each strip of film is spliced to the trailing end of a preceding strip which is wound onto a take-up reel to form a master reel. The master reel of film is mountable on the input end of a photographic processing device having a processing chemistry that is compatible with the type of film on the master reel. The exposed film is passed in sequence through a series of operation performing stations in the processing device, including developing, fixing, washing and drying stations. By splicing the leading end of one master reel to the trailing end of another, the film processing device may operate continuously. After the film is processed, it is fed to a break-down work center where the film is inspected, severed and wound on separate customer reels for shipment to the customers.

The film discriminating and winding apparatus of this invention generally comprises a film container conditioning station having a conditioning mechanism of any known type in the art, and illustrated in block diagram form, for conditioning a container such as a cartridge, not shown, so that the film may be removed therefrom. Such a conditioning mechanism may include a movable member such as a solenoid controlled pin, not shown, for piercing the cartridge and disabling the anti-backup clutch to permit the film to be stripped from the cartridge, or a rotatable cartridge breaking member, not shown, for breaking open the cartridge. The leading end of the film removed from the cartridge may be automatically or manually fed by the operator through any suitable transport rollers, not shown, to an operating station such as a splicing station where the leading end is spliced to the trailing end of the previous filmstrip by any suitable film splicing mechanism, now shown.

A film sensing mechanism of any known type in the art, and illustrated in block diagram form, is provided at the cartridge conditioning station for sensing filmidentifying indicia on each cartridge, and in response thereto establishing an electrical film signal or pulse output compatible with the type of film contained therein. The film-identifying indicia provided on the cartridges is of a known type, normally comprising one or more notches, not shown, in a wall of the cartridge, differently arranged in number and spacing for each type of film. The film sensing mechanism preferably comprises a fluidic sensor of known type in the art, not shown, movable into engagement with the cartridge for sensing the notches in the cartridge. The jets of fluid emitted from the sensing head will generate back pressure in those areas where a notch is absent for closing one or more fluid operated switches. The switches are coupled to any suitable signal or pulse generating circuit such as an oscillator or the like for establishing an electrical film signal or pulse output corresponding to the type of film being sensed.

The film discriminating and winding apparatus further has a film winding mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3, comprising a reel supporting spindle 12 mountable on the end of a shaft 14 joumaled for rotation in a housing 16 secured to a frame 18. The spindle 12 has a key latch 20 for releasably holding a reel mounted thereon, and the shaft 14, spindle l2 and reel 10 are rotatably driven by any suitable drive mechanism, not shown. Since color film comes in a variety of types designated A to E requiring difierent processing chemistry, the reels 10 are coded or provided with a distinguishing characteristic to clearly indicate the type of film to be wound thereon. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reel code comprises a laterally extending annular ring 22 on reel 10 of one diameter for one type of film, a similar ring 24 of a different diameter on a reel 10 for a different type of film, and the complete absence of a ring on a reel 10 for still another type of film. Although only two rings 22,24 of different diameter are illustrated, any number of the rings of varying diameter may be used. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other coding arrangements such as the presence or absence of other surfaces on the reel or even optical or magnetic coding may be utilized, and that the disclosed coding structure is intended to be exemplary only.

To assure that a film will not be wound on a take-up 10 reel of a type different from the type that the reel is coded to receive, a reel sensing mechanism (FIG. 3) is mounted adjacent spindle 12 for sensing the reel code when a reel is mounted thereon. The reel sensing mechanism comprises a plurality of follower levers 26, one for each code ring, pivotally mounted at 28, and normally urged by a spring 30 in a clockwise direction with the movement thereof limited by an adjustable stop pin 32 engaging frame 18. One end of each lever 26 rotatably supports a roller 34 ridable on a corresponding ring, and the opposite end thereof has a cam surface 36 adapted to engage an actuator arm 38 of a corresponding microswitch such as S or S for opening and closing the switch. When, for example, a take-up reel 10 having a ring 22 is mounted on spindle 12, the reel sensing mechanism responds to the ring, closing normally open corresponding microswitch S, coupled through any suitable machine logic or control circuit comprising an electrical pulse generating circuit for generating an electrical reel pulse or signal to be fed into a corresponding AND gate, as best seen in FIG. 2. When a reel 10 not having a ring, but having a known color or printed code, is mounted on spindle 12, the cam actuated microswitches such as S, and S remain in their normally open condition, and the operator manually moves a selector switch 8;, (FIG. 2) to a desired position corresponding to the visually known reel code for establishing an electrical circuit and generating a reel signal. The selector switch 8;, may be used in conjunction with any type of coded reel to increase the number of different types of color films that may be handled by the apparatus over and above the number of different distinguishing characteristics such as rings available on reels. In the illustration in FIG. 2, selector switch S is used in conjunction with a reel not having a ring, but having some known code such as a color or printed code, to permit programming the apparatus to select any one of a plurality of film types, shown as C, D and E. The selector switch 8;, comprises a manually movable contact 40 electrically engageable with one of a plurality of fixed contacts 42, 44 and 46 electrically connected to corresponding signal producing circuits such as oscillators whose reel signal outputs C, D and E are connected to corresponding AND gates C, D and E respectively. Accordingly, when a reel 10 not having a ring is mounted on spindle l2, levers 26, due to springs 30, are in engagement frame 18 and microswitches such as S, and S are in their normally open position. The operator manually moves selector-switch 40 from its off position to the desired type of film visually observed on an annunciator corresponding to the known coded reel, and such action electrically connects a corresponding reel signal to the AND gate corresponding to the desired type of film. Accordingly, establishing an electrical circuit by positioning selectorswitch S or by mounting a reel having a ring thereon, programs the apparatus so that the cartridge conditioning mechanism, which requires a signal from an AND gate, will be enabled for operation only when a cartridge is positioned in the conditioning mechanism containing a film type corresponding to the film code on the reel.

With reference to FIG. 2, the signals generated by the film and reel sensing mechanisms are fed to AND gates of the logic system, which are in turn electrically coupled to the cartridge conditioning mechanism. Accordingly, if an AND gate, such as AND gate A of the control circuit receives corresponding film and reel signals A from the film and reel sensing mechanisms respectively (which occurs when a reel having a ring 22 for receiving a film type A is mounted on the apparatus, and a cartridge containing film type A is mounted in the conditioning mechanism), AND gate A is operated generating a signal or completing an electrical circuit for enabling the cartridge conditioning mechanism for operation. If, however, a cartridge is positioned for conditioning containing a film type B, the pressure switches previously closed by the cartridge containing film type A will not be closed, and hence no film signal A will be generated and fed to AND gate A. Instead,

other pressure switches sill be closed, and a film signal B will be generated and fed to AND gate B. Since a film signal A is not received at AND gate A from the film sensing mechanism, the cartridge conditioning mechanism will remain disabled. The operator manually removes the cartridge and places it in a reject bin for later visual observation in daylight. If the cartridge is observed to contain the same type of film which is to be wound on the reel, in the example film type A, but failed to actuate the film sensing mechanism, the operator repositions the cartridge in the conditioning mechanism, and closes an override switch, not shown, overriding the film and reel sensing mechanisms, and operating the cartridge conditioning mechanism to condition the cartridge for film removal. Accordingly, once selector S is moved to a desired position, or a reel having a ring such as 22 or 24 is mounted on spindle 12, the reel signal generating circuit is operated feeding a reel signal to an AND gate corresponding to the reel and film type. Accordingly, any cartridge placed in position to be conditioned containing the same type of film to be wound on the reel generates a film signal through a fluidic sensor that is also fed into the AND gate corresponding to the reel and film type. With these two conditions satisfied, the AND gate is operated generating an electrical signal or completing an electrical circuit for enabling the cartridge conditioning mechanism for operation. When the operator operates the conditioning mechanism by closing a switch or the like, the cartridge is conditioned permitting removal of the film.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but is will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove.

I claim:

1. In a film discriminating and winding apparatus, the combination comprising:

a take-up spindle for receiving a take-up reel mountable thereon and coded to receive one type of film; means responsive to said coded reel for establishing a first condition. corresponding to said one type of film; y means at a conditioning station effective when enabled for conditioning a film container to permit removal of the film therefrom, said film container having film identifying indicia corresponding to the type of film contained therein;

means for sensing said film identifying indicia on said film container at said conditioning station and establishing a second condition corresponding to the type of film in said container; and

means responsive to said first and second conditions for enabling said conditioning means when said first and second conditions are established for the same type of film.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said conditioning means comprises a film container breaking mechanism for breaking open the container.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container and said sensing means comprises a fluidic sensor for sensing said notches.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said reel responsive means comprises an electrical switch.

6.'The invention according to claim 1 wherein said reel responsive means comprises a microswitch, said conditioning means comprises a container breaking mechanism for breaking open the container, said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container, said sensing means comprises a fiuidic sensor for sensing said notches, and said means responsive to said first and second conditions comprises an AND gate.

7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the reel is provided with a code such as an annular ring corresponding to a predetermined type of film, and said reel responsive means comprises an electrical switch having an actuator element ridable on said ring.

8. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said reel is provided with a code such as an annular ring corresponding to a predetermined type of film, said reel responsive means comprises an electrical switch actuatable by an element ridable on said ring, said conditioning means comprises a film container breaking mechanism for breaking open the container, said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container, said sensing means comprises a fluidic sensor for sensing said notches, and said means responsive to said first and second conditions com prises an ANDf gate.

9. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the reel is provided with a code such as a visually distinguishing characteristic corresponding to one or more types of film, and said reel responsive means comprises a manually operated selector switch movable to a position for establishing a first condition corresponding to the visually distinguishing characteristic.

10. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the reel is provided with a code such as the absence of a ring and a visually distinguishing characteristic corresponding to one or more types of film, said reel responsive means comprises a manually operated selector switch movable to a position for establishing a first condition corresponding to the visually distinguishing characteristic, said conditioning means comprises a film container breaking mechanism for breaking open the container, said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container, said sensing means comprises a .fluidic sensor for sensing said notches, and said means responsive to said first and second conditions comprises an AND gate. 

1. In a film discriminating and winding apparatus, the combination comprising: a take-up spindle for receiving a take-up reel mountable thereon and coded to receive one type of film; means responsive to said coded reel for establishing a first condition corresponding to said one type of film; means at a conditioning station effective when enabled for conditioning a film container to permit removal of the film therefrom, said film container having film identifying indicia corresponding to the type of film contained therein; means for sensing said film identifying indicia on said film container at said conditioning station and establishing a second condition corresponding to the type of film in said container; and means responsive to said first and second conditions for enabling said conditioning means when said first and second conditions are established for the same type of film.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said conditioning means comprises a film container breaking mechanism for breaking open the container.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container and said sensing means comprises a fluidic sensor for sensing said notches.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said reel responsive means comprises an electrical switch.
 6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said reel responsive means comprises a microswitch, said conditioning means comprises a container breaking mechanism for breaking open the container, said film identifying indicia comprises one or morE notches in a wall of the container, said sensing means comprises a fluidic sensor for sensing said notches, and said means responsive to said first and second conditions comprises an ''''AND'''' gate.
 7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the reel is provided with a code such as an annular ring corresponding to a predetermined type of film, and said reel responsive means comprises an electrical switch having an actuator element ridable on said ring.
 8. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said reel is provided with a code such as an annular ring corresponding to a predetermined type of film, said reel responsive means comprises an electrical switch actuatable by an element ridable on said ring, said conditioning means comprises a film container breaking mechanism for breaking open the container, said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container, said sensing means comprises a fluidic sensor for sensing said notches, and said means responsive to said first and second conditions comprises an ''''AND'''' gate.
 9. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the reel is provided with a code such as a visually distinguishing characteristic corresponding to one or more types of film, and said reel responsive means comprises a manually operated selector switch movable to a position for establishing a first condition corresponding to the visually distinguishing characteristic.
 10. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the reel is provided with a code such as the absence of a ring and a visually distinguishing characteristic corresponding to one or more types of film, said reel responsive means comprises a manually operated selector switch movable to a position for establishing a first condition corresponding to the visually distinguishing characteristic, said conditioning means comprises a film container breaking mechanism for breaking open the container, said film identifying indicia comprises one or more notches in a wall of the container, said sensing means comprises a fluidic sensor for sensing said notches, and said means responsive to said first and second conditions comprises an ''''AND'''' gate. 